Difference between revisions of "Acanthophoenix crinita"

Latest revision as of 13:53, 9 February 2023

Pronunciation: uh-can-tuh-FEE-nix kri-NEE-tuh

Acanthophoenix crinita is a thin-trunked, pinnate palm from Reunion Island, east of Madagascar. Though from a decidedly tropical climate, this palm has surprising cold tolerance and does surprisingly well in a Mediterranean climate, growing to maturity in several California locations. Though not as colorful as its cousin, Acanthophoenix rubra, it is far hardier and is a fascinating spiny palm for partially sunny areas of the warmer areas of southern California.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 feather leaves
Height: 15-20 feet
Trunk: clean; light tan to white, prominently ringed with long black spines when younger, disappearing with age; 'foot' at base; 4"-6" thick
Crownshaft: brown and intensely spiny in younger palms (no old palms in southern California, yet)' about same width as trunk
Spread: 8'-10'
Leaf Shape: 6 feet long, flat with closely spaced leaflets
Petiole: short and spiny when young
Foliage: medium bright green and somewhat spiny in younger plants
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: white to pinkish-orange flowers
Fruit: 6mm and black when mature
Seed: 4mm spherical

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 28F
Drought Tolerance: poor
Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate if protected from sun
Cool Tolerance: moderate
Wind Tolerance: mod to poor
Salt Tolerance: unknown
Growth Rate: slow but picks up a bit with age
Soil Preference: rich and well draining, but somewhat tolerant of clay soils
Light Requirement: filtered light when young to half day sun as adult (even inland)
Human Hazards: very spiny palm until mature (some spines seem to remain)
Disease or Horticultural Problems: unknown
Indoor?: very poor choice of indoor palm due to spines

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-[[File:Acanthophoenix 1 levine.JPG|thumb|200px|left|Vista, California]]
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 | '''Pronunciation:''' uh-can-tuh-FEE-nix kri-NEE-tuh
-|-
-| '''Common Name:''' test test test
-|-
-| '''Synonym:''' test test test
-|-
 |}
-{{-}}
-'''''Acanthophoenix crinita''''' is a thin-trunked, pinnate palm from Reunion Island, east of Madagascar.  Though from a decidedly tropical climate, this palm has surprising cold tolerance and does surprisingly well in a Mediterranean climate, growing to maturity in several California locations.  Though not as colorful as its cousin, Acanthophoenix rubra, it is far hardier and is a fascinating spiny palm for partially sunny areas of the warmer areas of southern California.
+<br style: "clear=all">
+'''''Acanthophoenix crinita''''' is a thin-trunked, pinnate palm from Reunion Island, east of Madagascar.  Though from a decidedly tropical climate, this palm has surprising cold tolerance and does surprisingly well in a Mediterranean climate, growing to maturity in several California locations.  Though not as colorful as its cousin, Acanthophoenix rubra, it is far hardier and is a fascinating spiny palm for partially sunny areas of the warmer areas of southern California.
 <br style: "clear=all">
 {| colspan="2" style="background: #FCFCFC; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;" |
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 <div style="background: #e5a178; border: 1px solid black; padding: 5px; margin: 3px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; font-size: 120%;">Appearance and Biology</div>
 <div style="padding-left: 1em;">
-*'''Habit''': solitary
+*'''Habit''': solitary with a crown of 6-10 feather leaves
 *'''Height''': 15-20 feet
 *'''Trunk''': clean; light tan to white, prominently ringed with long black spines when younger, disappearing with age; 'foot' at base; 4"-6" thick
@@ Line 36: / Line 32: @@
 *'''Drought Tolerance''': poor
 *'''Dry Heat Tolerance''': moderate if protected from sun
+*'''Cool Tolerance''': moderate
 *'''Wind Tolerance''': mod to poor
 *'''Salt Tolerance''': unknown
@@ Line 45: / Line 42: @@
 *'''Indoor?''': very poor choice of indoor palm due to spines
 |}
+{{#Widget:AdResBan}}
 <gallery>
 File:Acanthophoenix 1 levine.JPG|Vista, California
+File:Acanthophoenix crinita nice K.jpg|Huntington Beach, California
 File:Acanthophoenix crinita.JPG|Vista, California
 File:Acanthophoenix crinita Velez.jpg|Orange County, California
 File:Acanthophoenix crinita trunk.JPG|ringed trunk
+File:Acanthophoenix crinita foot K.jpg|swollen base (foot)
 File:Acanthophoenix crinita crownshaft L.JPG|spiny crownshaft
+File:Acanthophoenix crownshaft K.jpg|crownshaft shot of mature palm, Orange county, California
 File:Acanthophoenix crinita flower spathe Levine.JPG|flower spathe
 File:Acanthophoenix crinita flower.JPG|flower

Difference between revisions of "Acanthophoenix crinita"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Latest revision as of 13:53, 9 February 2023